Pre Season Games

Loughborough training camp confirmed
https://www.bcfc.co.uk/news/loughborough-training-camp-confirmed/

 

Pre Season Games

v Celtic- Wednesday, 14/07/21 - k/o 7-30pm - (H) High Performance Centre
v Portsmouth - Tuesday, 20/07/21 - k/o 2-00pm - (H) High Performance Centre
v MKDons - Saturday, 24/07/21 - k/o 1-30pm - (H) High Performance Centre
v Exeter - Tuesday, 27/07/21 - k/o 1-00pm - (A) Cliff Hill Training Park
v Plymouth - Tuesday, 27/07/21 - k/0 6-00pm - (A) Home Park
v Aston Villa - Saturday, 31/o7/21 - k/o 1-00pm (H) Ashton Gate)



CITY UNDER-23S PRE-SEASON GAMES

• • Saturday, July 17th – Paulton Rovers (A, 3pm)
  • Saturday, July 24th – Weston-super-Mare (A, 3pm)
  • Friday, July 30th – Hungerford Town (A, 7.45pm)
  • Tuesday, August 3rd – Yate Town (A, 7.45pm)
  • Tuesday, August 10th – Taunton Town (A, 7.45pm)

 

Robins TV three-game pre-season pass
https://www.bcfc.co.uk/news/robins-tv-three-game-pre-season-pass/

 

Pre Season Games

v Celtic- Wednesday, 14/07/21 - k/o 7-30pm - (H) High Performance Centre
v Portsmouth - Tuesday, 20/07/21 - k/o 2-00pm - (H) High Performance Centre
v MKDons - Saturday, 24/07/21 - k/o 1-30pm - (H) High Performance Centre
v Exeter - Tuesday, 27/07/21 - k/o 1-00pm - (A) Cliff Hill Training Park
v Plymouth - Tuesday, 27/07/21 - k/0 6-00pm - (A) Home Park
v Aston Villa - Saturday, 31/o7/21 - k/o 1-00pm (H) Ashton Gate



CITY UNDER-23S PRE-SEASON GAMES

• • Saturday, July 17th – Paulton Rovers (A, 3pm)
  • Saturday, July 24th – Weston-super-Mare (A, 3pm)
  • Friday, July 30th – Hungerford Town (A, 7.45pm)
  • Tuesday, August 3rd – Yate Town (A, 7.45pm)
  • Tuesday, August 10th – Taunton Town (A, 7.45pm)

 

v Celtic
Midfield mix and Atkinson's introduction - Things to watch out for as Bristol City face Celtic
The Robins begin pre-season by taking on the Bhoys and will look to build fitness as well as grab a morale-boosting win

Football begins again on Wednesday for Bristol City as Ange Postecoglou's Celtic visit the Robins High Performance Centre.

Manager Nigel Pearson held an 11-a-side game last week and another last Saturday morning, with players building up from 20-minute playing blocks of time to 30-minute, and the visit of the Scottish giants sees the next post passed as the Robins warm up for the 2021/22 season.

Two teams are to be used, a 60-minute side and a 30-minute one, with the latter then training the next day at Loughborough, as the Robins head to the Midlands.

Pearson admits that he is not a fan of pre-season and instead prefers the competitive encounters, though supporters may relish seeing City take on illustrious opposition, albeit by stream with no supporters allowed to attend the game at the training ground.


"I'm not a fan. I'll just take it as it comes. They're training games," said Pearson ahead of the game, candidly. "I think it's great that we've got some good games that we can stream. Don't get me wrong, it's important that we go into these games competitively and try and win these. But it's also vital that we continue to develop ourselves."

The 51-times SPFL champions, dethroned by Rangers last year of course, are beginning a new era with Greek-Australian Postecoglou in charge.

And Pearson and co will welcome the Glasgow outfit as part of the visitors' tour of the South West, as they stay at the Cletic Manor Resort nearby in South Wales. City intend to use the game as a training exercise and may field several new signings.

Here are our suggestions on what to look out for as football comes home again in the West Country, if not nationally.

New man at the back?

It could be that we get a first glimpse of Rob Atkinson at the back for the Robins. The new signing from Oxford United was stationed on the left-side of the central defence, alongside, Nathan Baker when Bristol Live was invited to watch a training session last week.

Pearson has hinted that Atkinson is a little behind where he wants the player to be fitness-wise currently, after only arriving from the U's 10 days ago.

But there may yet be some minutes for a player who could potentially inherit the crown of Adam 'Webdini' Webster in being the Robins' key cultured defender at the back, needed to bring the ball forward and release the pressure as City look to turn defence into attack.

"He's very self-aware of what he wants out of his career, and hence this this is a really good step for him," said Pearson of his new charge recently. "But if we're successful then he can make the progression with us as a club."

Who gets the nod in midfield?

Might we get a clue for City's first-choice central midfield here? When we spoke to Pearson on Friday he explained that those in possession of the shirt against Brentford were likely to keep their starting places, until replaced by those more deserving.

Han-Noah Massengo, Kasey Palmer, Alex Scott and Tyreeq Bakinson all played in that final home game of the last campaign, City playing well for an hour before Ivan Toney netted and the dam burst open.

Should either of new men Matty James or Andy King get an immediate start in the middle it could herald the start of City's new-look central engine room.

Which youngsters will be involved?

Tommy Conway and Alex Scott were in the starting XI in the last competitive game that City played and the pair may well have a part to play up at the HPC on Wednesday evening, 7.45pm kick-off.

But Pearson also has Sam Bell back fit again, while Saikou Janneh and Owura Edwards impressed in the training session we saw last week. Ryley Towler, Sam Pearson and James Morton cannot be discounted either, having featured at times last campaign, while Cam Pring vs George Nurse is a real battle for the left-back understudy role to Jay Dasilva.

We may see how these young players have progressed over the last months with confidence no doubt high, as they continue to be involved at senior level. (Louis Britton is expected to miss out as a knee injury keeps him out for another week, with Robbie Cundy missing too with a knee knock; Antoine Semenyo and Joe Williams are not expected to feature either.)

What shape are the returning players from injury?

Chris Martin, Andi Weimann, Callum O'Dowda and Nathan Baker all missed large chunks of last season through injury. All are expected to feature on Wednesday.

The manager in particular has talked up all four and City will no doubt take heart from the quartet being involved again. We'll get to see how robust they are over the coming months, with the club eager to avoid the problems of last season.

Contact injuries can, of course, not be avoided, but the Robins will be desperate to avoid seeing anything long-term picked up, as occurred with Baker on the eve of the new season a year ago.

In particular, the return of dynamic Austrian Weimann is a huge boost for Pearson's side, and as soon as the 29-year-old is scoring goals and leading the press, the better it will be for the West Country men. Especially with Nahki Wells absent through his recent international matches.

And Celtic?

The Glasgow opposition have brought in three free transfers in Liam Shaw, Joey Dawson and Osaze Urhoghide, but class acts James Forrest, David Turnbull and coveted striker Odsonne Edouard could be the main men to keep an eye out for, if involved in this third pre-season game of the summer for the Hoops.

Wins over Charlton Athletic and Sheffield Wednesday in Newport have set up the visitors to try and make it an unbeaten trip south before they head back to Glasgow to face Preston North End next at the weekend.
https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport...ic-atkinson-midfield-5648499#comments-section

 

FT: 0-0 - An honourable draw at the HPC

 

https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/match-reports/bristol-city-v-celtic-live-5652313

 

‘Doesn’t sound too good’, ‘He’s off’ – These Bristol City fans discuss Nigel Pearson’s surprising player comments after Celtic draw
https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/d...surprising-player-comments-after-celtic-draw/

 

Day One: Bristol City train at Loughborough University
https://www.bcfc.co.uk/news/day-one-bristol-city-train-at-loughborough-university/

 

Interview: Dave Rennie discusses day two at Loughborough University
https://www.bcfc.co.uk/news/interview-dave-rennie-discusses-day-two-at-loughborough-university/

 

Day Three: Pool and pitches
https://www.bcfc.co.uk/news/day-three-pool-and-pitches/

 

Bristol City handed fitness boost with return of midfielder ahead of Portsmouth friendly
Nigel Pearson had claimed that Bristol City need to be "careful" with the midfielder as his first season with the Robins has been riddled with injury issues

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Joe Williams takes on Sam Pearson during Bristol City's training camp at Loughborough
https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/bristol-city-fitness-boost-midfielder-5667316

 

Bristol City possible starting lineup:
O'Leary; Simpson, Baker, Atkinson, Da Silva; King, James, Pearson, Palmer; Weimann, Martin

Portsmouth possible starting lineup:
Bass; Johnson, Downing, Robertson, Brown; Tunnicliffe, Williams, Harness; Curtis, Marquis, Trialist
https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/footba...-team-news-lineups_455905.html?cQx=NN&newsnow